Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Brumby Runner]

These are the Pigs I would be taking

1) AAA / Slipper or Robertson
2) Fainga’a / Mafi / Ulese
3) Sio / Thor /Kepu
4) Rodda /Coleman
5) Arnold / Philip
6) Salakai-Loto / Jones
7) Hooper /Pocock or Samu

8) Naisarani / Dempsey

FP, by your name I would gathjer you know a lot more about forwards play than I do, but why in the world would you swap Ala'alatoa to the LH side and Sio to the TH side when they have been opposite to that in all their games for the past couple to many years?

I'd also, in my probable lack of wisdom, have Valetini as backup No 8 in preference to Dempsey on the basis of better Super form, more aggression and impact in both defense and attack, and significantly more potential. Otherwise, on the mark.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Bit of a myth to be honest.

I still recall the last Ireland test where Powell came off the bench behind Phipps who had a blinder and threw the worst pass of the game.

Please pick Phipps

I don’t think it’s a myth at all that his passing is poor. He’s struggled with an accurate consistent pass for years. There’s no doubting his competitiveness, enthusiasm and ability to marshall his team mates.
I think he can be erratic when the pressure is on and closing out a match is probably where you want a calmer head.

 

[Up the Guts]

FP, by your name I would gathjer you know a lot more about forwards play than I do, but why in the world would you swap Ala'alatoa to the LH side and Sio to the TH side when they have been opposite to that in all their games for the past couple to many years?

I'd also, in my probable lack of wisdom, have Valetini as backup No 8 in preference to Dempsey on the basis of better Super form, more aggression and impact in both defense and attack, and significantly more potential. Otherwise, on the mark.

Yep, Dempsey hasn’t kicked on since he stepped a few ABs in Brisbane two years ago. Granted he’s been thwarted by injuries but Valetini is certainly playing better than him.

 

[Braveheart81]

I wouldn't pick Dempsey either. I don't think he has shown much this year in the games he's played.

The question I would have about Valetini is what his work is like at the back of the scrum. I think he needs to be a good option at 8 as well as 6 to be a chance of making the final RWC squad. I think he's a strong chance of making an initial 40 man squad though.

If he's seen as a specialist he'd be behind Naisarani and might miss out to someone like Samu who is more versatile. If you're outside the starting XV it's going to be hard to make the RWC side as a backrower, particularly if Pocock makes it onto the plane.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

He might have a less serious rap sheet but he's also not necessarily been known as a great club man at various points in the past.

The price would have to be right. I would expect him to want a high end Super Rugby salary and I doubt he would be worth it.

Arguably Hunt was only of value to the Waratahs because they weren't paying all his salary. At full freight I don't think he would have been close to being worth it (partly because he missed a fair bit of time with injury).

In the past as you say - guess Sale would be able to say how much that is in the past and non issue. His asking price could be an issue but still worth a look imo as we are talking about a 28 year old James o’Connor.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I wouldn't pick Dempsey either. I don't think he has shown much this year in the games he's played.

The question I would have about Valetini is what his work is like at the back of the scrum. I think he needs to be a good option at 8 as well as 6 to be a chance of making the final RWC squad. I think he's a strong chance of making an initial 40 man squad though.

If he's seen as a specialist he'd be behind Naisarani and might miss out to someone like Samu who is more versatile. If you're outside the starting XV it's going to be hard to make the RWC side as a backrower, particularly if Pocock makes it onto the plane.

For me on form would be criminal to leave out Samu and I have him ahead of Valetini

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Got to admit if banks keeps playing like last game he would have to start ahead of dhp whose form in second half like a lot of other rebels wallabies dropped off

 

[Up the Guts]

I think with Jones’ dip in form towards the end of the season Valetini and he are competing for the 6 spot behind LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). I am partial to the starch Valetini can bring in attack and defence, something we’ve lacked the last few years, but Jones has a nice skill set at lineout time and a very high work rate around the park. Jones is obviously the lower risk option given his previous experience. However, if Valetini continues to impress in this week’s game (and hopefully the final) against a top class team(s) he could force his way into the 23 against SA or Argentina and potentially springboard from there.

 

[Joe Blow]

I wouldn't pick Dempsey either. I don't think he has shown much this year in the games he's played.

The question I would have about Valetini is what his work is like at the back of the scrum. I think he needs to be a good option at 8 as well as 6 to be a chance of making the final RWC squad. I think he's a strong chance of making an initial 40 man squad though.

If he's seen as a specialist he'd be behind Naisarani and might miss out to someone like Samu who is more versatile. If you're outside the starting XV it's going to be hard to make the RWC side as a backrower, particularly if Pocock makes it onto the plane.

Hanigan has looked pretty good this year. I’d guess he would be picked ahead of Dempsey right now and rightly so.

 

[Braveheart81]

Hanigan has looked pretty good this year. I’d guess he would be picked ahead of Dempsey right now and rightly so.

I agree.

People will get outraged again but Hanigan will make the 40 man squad. He's had a good season.

I wouldn't have him in the 31 man RWC squad but he's probably only an injury or two away to certain people.

There's a few moving parts there in terms of whether LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is seen as a lock (and they take one less as a result) and then the fitness of Pocock.

 

[Derpus]

I actually quite like the idea of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) playing lock as it means we have another abrasive ball carrier and can fit in another one of our many form back-rowers and leave out some of the locks who have had questionable form (looking at you Simmons and Coleman)

 

[cyclopath]

I actually quite like the idea of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) playing lock as it means we have another abrasive ball carrier and can fit in another one of our many form back-rowers and leave out some of the locks who have had questionable form (looking at you Simmons and Coleman)

Yes, if he does all the core lock work well - lineouts, shoring his side of the scrum etc......... Especially the latter. In recent years I think our scrum has suffered at times from locks that are not great scrum technicians. I think we have enough lock and back row options available that we don't need to compromise in either area in any way. Until injuries happen!

 

[Derpus]

True, also i wonder who calls if Rodda goes down.

 

[cyclopath]

True, also i wonder who calls if Rodda goes down.

I'm betting more than one player is capable of this Mensa-like skill.

 

[Derpus]

I'm betting more than one player is capable of this Mensa-like skill.

Given last years lineout shenanigans can you even be sure one is?

 

[cyclopath]

Given last years lineout shenanigans can you even be sure one is?

I think Folau Fainga'a is a significant positive factor now. And if we have more options (which we should with available back row options) then it should be appreciably better.

 

[Brumbieman]

My pack - best two options in each position

Sio/Slipper
Fainga'a/Eulese
AAA/Thor
Rodda/Carter
Arnold/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Jones/Valetini
Hooper/Pocock
Naisirani/McCaffrey...possibly Samu

 

[Brumbieman]

It’s not a myth at all. If Phipps pass was strong he’d be our clear Number 1 half. That doesn’t mean every pass is sub standard or he can’t go through games where he passes well. But he has consistently across his career has an issue with the reliability of his pass and, as a half, it is his number 1 job.

The fact that other halves also throw the occasional or more than occasional bad pass doesn’t make Phipps passing better or worse.

I'd actually rate his pass better than Genia's - he puts the ball out in front of the man. Genia reliably puts it on the inside shoulder of the receiver and rarely lets them take full momentum into the tackle.

Phipp's problem is that he's so keen to get the ball out that he forgets to look where/who he's passing to sometimes and the odd howler stands out FAR more than consistently average passing without the howler.

 

[RugbyReg]

My pack - best two options in each position

Sio/Slipper
Fainga'a/Eulese
AAA/Thor
Rodda/Carter
Arnold/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Jones/Valetini
Hooper/Pocock
Naisirani/McCaffrey.possibly Samu

Blake Enever and Les Makin seem very unlucky

 

[Brumbieman]

Not really, they haven't really featured that heavily or dominated their competition all season.

The best team, and by FAR the best pack getting a 50% representation isn't that daft is it?